Safety circuit for DC leakage detection
AssigneeBiosense Webster (Israel) Ltd.
InventorsAssaf Govari, Andres Claudio Altmann, Vadim Gliner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A safety circuit, in the form of a switch box, for coupling with a catheter, detects DC leakage or emission from an amplifier circuit of the catheter, and switches a switch to immediately terminates (cuts-off) power to the amplifier circuit. This immediate power termination instantaneously stops DC leakage, which if left unchecked or otherwise undetected, may reach the heart, and disrupt its electrical activity and cause other damage.
Claims15
A system for amplifying signals sensed from each of a plurality of electrodes mounted on a distal end of a catheter, the system comprising:
- an amplifier circuit comprising a plurality of amplifiers, each amplifier coupled to an electrode of the plurality of electrodes and configured for amplifying signals sensed from the electrode with which it is coupled;
- and
- a safety apparatus configured for detecting at the coupling between the plurality electrodes and the amplifier circuit, direct current (DC) leakage from the amplifier circuit, the safety apparatus comprising:
- a switch for controlling the flow of power from a power source to the amplifier circuit, the switch comprising a first setting, where power is delivered from the power source to the amplifier circuit, and a second setting, where the power from the power source to the amplifier circuit is cut off;
- a direct current (DC) monitor in communication with the amplifier circuit, for monitoring DC signals from the amplifier circuit;
- and
- a controller in communication with the DC monitor and the switch, the controller for controlling switching of the switch between the first setting and the second setting, in response to the controller determining whether the detected DC signals from the DC monitor have at least met a threshold DC signal.
A method for amplifying signals sensed from each of a plurality of electrodes mounted on a distal end of a catheter, the method comprising:
- coupling the plurality of electrodes to an amplifier circuit, wherein the amplifier circuit includes a plurality of amplifiers, each amplifier coupled to an electrode of the plurality of electrodes and configured for amplifying signals sensed from the electrode with which it is coupled
- monitoring direct current (DC) signals from the amplifier circuit at the coupling between the plurality electrodes and the amplifier circuit;
- determining whether the detected DC signals at least meet a predetermined threshold current and/or voltage;
- and
- if the current and or voltage from the detected DC signals at least meets the predetermined threshold current and/or voltage, signaling a switch to be at a setting where power from a power source to the amplifier circuit is cut off.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.